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recant

openly and formally withdraw statements or expression of belief, etc.
When you recant a statement you openly state that you no longer believe it correct, some times because you are forced to do so. You recant your belief when you openly state that you no longer have that belief and that such a belief is wrong. Your open rejection of your beliefs, opinions you have held earlier are your recanting of them.

Galileo imprisoned for his antichristian beliefs about the structure of the universe recanted his beliefs, so that he could be free. He stated openly that his statement that the sun is the center of the solar system was wrong.

The prisoner on pain of death recanted the statement he had earlier made about those in power. He openly admitted that his statements were lies.